My '96 VS Calais SII

[Benneh69]

Hey guys! Known about JC for some time now, even before I bought the Calais and haven't yet posted it up yet so I thought I might as well introduce myself and the car and get some opinions

This is my first car, a 96 VS Calais Series 2, picked it up for $4000 including 12 months rego from a dealer in Feb this year and so far couldn't be happier with it

Probably not the cleanest example of a VSII Calais on here, but then again it is a $4000 first car and there's always room for improvement

Let me know what you think

1996 VS Calais Series 2

Odo: Picked up at 224XXX, now around 238XXX
Colour: Botanica Blue (I think?) Over SII Silver
Engine: Standard 3.8L N/A Ecotec, Supercharged OTR Cold Air Intake
Transmission: 4spd Auto
Exhaust: Standard (not running rear muffler at the moment)
Diff: Standard 3.08 non-LSD
Electrics: Standard Calais electrics, HBD Factory Sunroof
Interior: Full leather/woodgrain Calais spec
Wheels: VY SS 18's
Stereo: Standard Holden "premium audio" speakers, running from a Clarion VZ409a Single DIN Touchscreen Head Unit, 2x Fusion 12" Subs
Suspension: King Springs Ultralows (SSL front and SSSL rears), Monroe GT Sport Shocks all round

Future Plans (keeping it simple for now):
- Lowering (DONE)
- Extractors/new exhaust system - more than likely 2.5in catback
- New head unit and speakers (have 2x 12inch subs ready to go) (DONE)
- Fix up the little things such as a couple of blown dash lights etc
- Sort problem with climate control not blowing out of centre/side dash vents
- Bi-Xenon HID lights/look alike fog light globes (DONE - Fog/High Beam Globes coming soon!)
- Debadge V6 and replace side indicators with clear type (Indicators DONE - Not 100% on debadging yet...)
- ENGINE MODS COMING SOON!

Pics:

Just after I got it:





Now:

[GAMBLR]

Looks great buddy, nice starting point. Polish that colour and it just glows in the sun, always got complimented on how clean mine looked.

Makes me miss mine haha

[Benneh69]

Thanks man, lots of things I want to do with this car

You had a VSII Calais the same colour?

[tim005]

These things are so nice, I've always had a soft spot for them.
I think these things look so so so so tough slammed with the calais rims polished up with white walls.
That combined with some venetians and you're onto a winning combination.

[GAMBLR]

Sure did champ, have a suss if you want a few ideas.

Damo's 'Lais, Built To Cruise

Wasn't anything too special but was a great car. Would definitely buy another one to restore when the time comes!

[Benneh69]

These things are so nice, I've always had a soft spot for them.
I think these things look so so so so tough slammed with the calais rims polished up with white walls.
That combined with some venetians and you're onto a winning combination.

Yeah man, I love how shiny those rims come up after I give them a nice scrub and polish!
I've seen pics of other Calais' dumped onto the polished rims with white walls, looks so good and I agree with you 100%, the venetians just complete the look :P

Sure did champ, have a suss if you want a few ideas.

Damo's 'Lais, Built To Cruise

Wasn't anything too special but was a great car. Would definitely buy another one to restore when the time comes!

Far out, your Calais was mint! Love what you did with it man, I don't usually like Altezzas on Commodores let alone Calais' but they suited the look of your car so well!
Also the chrome rear garnish and door handles and vent bits looked off chops, defs a few additions to my wishlist there haha

[brad3394]

Looks clean bud, lower it bro, it will look sick

[Trayner]

please tell me you kept those calais rims , i kinda liked it better on them

[VL-187]

looks nice, i got one in white..id leave it on the calais rims and get them polished man, ss rims dont really suit it..

[brad3394]

Yeah keep it on the stockies man, super or ultra lows, and it will be baller bro.

then when i get my p's man, let go for a cruze.

[VL-187]

go ultra in front and bmw super lows rear, makes it sit real nice... ultras in rear hardly even drop it

[Benneh69]

please tell me you kept those calais rims , i kinda liked it better on them

Yeah I kept them Don't worry I want some other rims when I get some more cash but I'll wait to get it lowered and see what looks best on it

looks nice, i got one in white..id leave it on the calais rims and get them polished man, ss rims dont really suit it..

Hmm I kinda like the look of the SS's, originally wanted VE SSV rims but didn't have the cash so I settled for them for the time being ;( SSV's are on my wishlist still haha. But yeah, I'll wait til I can get it lowered and see what looks best

Yeah keep it on the stockies man, super or ultra lows, and it will be baller bro.

then when i get my p's man, let go for a cruze.

Yeah I need to get it lowered so bad one of the next things on the to do list lol
And for sure man, when do you go for your P's?

[brad3394]

If you decide you dont want the rims, ill buy them bro considering your only close.


umm i should have my p's about this time next month, HOPEFULLY

[Leigh_G]

go ultra in front and bmw super lows rear, makes it sit real nice... ultras in rear hardly even drop it

LOL I read ur post and was like "huh? ultras lower it a fair bit" then took one look at ur sig..

Back on topic, you picked the best Calais of the bunch. VS SIII = win.
Keep ur original calais wheels, they look pimp when you polish em up nice and clean.
I am also very jelly of your sunroof. Give it to me.

Most importantly, good luck with your future mods and hope it treats u well.

[Benneh69]

Hey guys

Haven't had much of a chance to post up what's been going on with the Calais lately, alot of the car stuff I've been doing lately has been involving my mate's bagged minitruck trying to get it to pass blueslip, so I thought It's about time I put up some more pics

Basically, all I've done is put VY SS 18's on it (until I can find some better rims/have money for them), installed Clarion head unit + 2x 12" Fusion subs, repainted wiper arms as they were fading, replaced a few bits here and there for example the indicator stalk and some globes, and lowered it on King Ultralows with Monroe shocks all round.

Here's some pics of the car now:


Clarion touchscreen single DIN head unit:


After lowering:








What do you guys think?

Didn't get any pics of the sub because the install is nothing special, it's literally just a box with 2x 12" Fusion Reactor subs sitting in the middle of the boot, amp was screwed into the back of the seat on the right hand side at the back of the boot.

I also have progress pics of the suspension going in but didn't want to flood the thread with pics

Anyway, give your opinions on what else I should do to this thing!

[nathanVY]

BEAUTIFUL.





Mate.

[HamaTime™]

What's the Clarion Headunit model number?

[Benneh69]

BEAUTIFUL.





Mate.

Thanks man appreciate it! You've got the exhaust tips I want

What's the Clarion Headunit model number?

It's a VZ409A, from memory, picked it up second hand off a mate for cheap, still in almost new condition though, he looked after it

[GAMBLR]

Looking great still champ! Keep up the awesome work!

[brad3394]

hey man, how you been?

still living in baulko, we still need to do that cruise.


The cars looking smik man, i love the rims.

[VS_Pete_1]

Nice ride mate

[VR38]

Like your head unit, howmichisit?

[Benneh69]

Thanks for the replies guys picked up some chaser rims with centre caps and dress trims for cheap this week, so gonna try put them on the car soon, mix up the look a little bit

Also soon to come, new exhaust system and extractors; driving to tafe the other day the rear muffler came off :/ so It's about time for that new exhaust :P

Any ideas for a nice sounding system? Defs gonna go the twin chrome dumpers out the back thats for sure

hey man, how you been?

still living in baulko, we still need to do that cruise.


The cars looking smik man, i love the rims.

Thanks bro! Hey I think I saw you today, in North Rocks drove past you with a mate in the car when you were turning right at the lights PM me dude and well organise a cruise :P

Like your head unit, howmichisit?

Thanks man, I think It's an 09 or 2010 model, I paid $300 second hand off my mate, he paid $900 retail for it so I'm guessing brand new updated model would be around the same but if you can look around for 2nd hand units, save so much cash!

[VS FTW]

Sooooo clean! Clear side indicators and remove v6 badge, keep the rear badges and just for now an exhaust tip?

[Benneh69]

Hey guys, just a quick update. This weekend I have installed 6000K HIDs on the car, Xmas pressie from the girlfriend

Theyre just a Bi-Xenon kit off eBay but far out they are bright!



Car looks so nice with the clear bright white lights - all I need to do now is replace fog and hi-beam globes with white looking globes to match the HIDs

Also fitted a factory supercharger CAI, you all know what that looks like :P

Exhaust coming soon hopefully

Let me know what you guys think!